It found that a fifth of fleet drivers had never undertaken routine maintenance, such as checking tyre pressure or oil and water levels, and a third of those that did only carried out such checks on a quarterly basis.
And although 72% said their company had advised them it was legal to only use a handsfree mobile phone while driving, the remaining 28% said no guidance had been issued on the mobile phone law, even though it came into force in December 2003.
The nationwide survey of more than 180 drivers was carried out by Kwik-Fit Fleet.
Nigel Davies, the company’s UK fleet sales director, said: ‘Health and safety has consistently featured as the number one fleet industry issue in recent years, yet our survey shows that in terms of routine vehicle maintenance basic checks are being ignored by many drivers.
‘This may be a laissez-faire attitude among company car drivers or the fact that they have not read the manual informing them about basic maintenance or have not been advised by fleet operators.’
Davies said carrying out monthly checks on tyres and fluid levels as well as lights and windscreen wipers should be a standard procedure among company car drivers.
He added: ‘It is clear that while many fleets and their company car drivers have adopted best practice advice in respect of tightening health and safety regulations, in respect of at-work driving there are a significant number that must tighten current practices.’
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